Microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate using an oil-free immiscible phase driven by manual or electronic pipettors

Abstract

Described is a microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate using an oil-free immiscible phase driven by manual or electronic pipettors. The well-plate includes a plurality of fluidic traps, a plurality of hydrophilic capillary constriction channels and a plurality of bypass channels. Each of the plurality of bypass channels is associated with one of the plurality of fluidic traps, each of the plurality of hydrophilic capillary constriction channels is associated with one of the plurality of fluidic traps, and each of the plurality of fluidic traps is associated with one of the plurality of bypass channels and one of the plurality of hydrophilic capillary constriction channels. The well-plate further includes an inlet, an outlet, and a main channel with a plurality of portions that connects the inlet to the plurality of fluidic traps, associated hydrophilic capillary constriction channels and associated bypass channels, and the outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate, comprising:
 a plurality of fluidic traps; 
 a plurality of hydrophilic capillary constriction channels; 
 a plurality of bypass channels, wherein each of the plurality of bypass channels is associated with one of the plurality of fluidic traps, each of the plurality of hydrophilic capillary constriction channels is associated with one of the plurality of fluidic traps, and each of the plurality of fluidic traps is associated with one of the plurality of bypass channels and one of the plurality of hydrophilic capillary constriction channels, wherein each fluidic trap and the associated bypass channel are connected in parallel and each fluidic trap and the associated hydrophilic capillary constriction channel are connected in series, each fluidic trap has a larger width than the associated bypass channel to trap fluid in said each fluidic trap while the fluid is removed from the associated bypass channel, and each of the hydrophilic capillary constriction channels is located only on an inlet side of the associated fluidic trap; 
 an inlet; 
 an outlet; and 
 a main channel with a plurality of portions that connects the inlet to the plurality of fluidic traps, associated hydrophilic capillary constriction channels and associated bypass channels, and the outlet. 
 
     
     
       2. The microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate of  claim 1  wherein the inlet includes an interface for a pipettor, pipette or other fluid driving mechanism. 
     
     
       3. The microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate of  claim 1  wherein the well-plate is located on a chip. 
     
     
       4. The microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of fluidic traps are arranged in a serial circuit with each other. 
     
     
       5. The microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of fluidic traps are arranged in a parallel circuit with each other. 
     
     
       6. The microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of fluidic traps comprises a plurality of networks of fluidic traps each including at least four fluidic traps. 
     
     
       7. The microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of fluidic traps comprises more than one hundred fluidic traps. 
     
     
       8. The microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of fluidic traps comprises a number of fluidic traps configured to meet requirements based on a desired application of the microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate. 
     
     
       9. The microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of enlarged main channel portions configured to optimize a reduction of air invading into the plurality of fluidic traps, wherein one of the plurality of enlarged main channel portions is located on an outlet side of each of the plurality of fluidic traps. 
     
     
       10. The microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of fluidic traps is a square-shaped trap. 
     
     
       11. The microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate of  claim 1  wherein the inlet, the outlet, the main channel, and the plurality of fluidic traps with the associated hydrophilic capillary constriction channels and associated bypass channels form a network, and the well-plate further comprises:
 a reservoir, filled with water open to atmosphere and substantially at a constant pressure, that surrounds the network of inlet, outlet, main channel, fluidic traps, hydrophilic capillary constriction channels and bypass channels; and 
 a cover that covers the reservoir and the network of inlet, outlet, main channel, fluidic traps, hydrophilic capillary constriction channels and bypass channels, wherein the cover includes a plurality of holes, each hole extends into one of the plurality of fluidic traps, and the fluidic traps are open to atmosphere through the holes when the holes are uncovered. 
 
     
     
       12. A microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate, comprising:
 a plurality of fluidic traps; 
 a plurality of hydrophobic capillary constriction channels; 
 a plurality of bypass channels, wherein each of the plurality of bypass channels is associated with one of the plurality of fluidic traps, each of the plurality of hydrophobic capillary constriction channels is associated with one of the plurality of fluidic traps, and each of the plurality of fluidic traps is associated with one of the plurality of bypass channels and one of the plurality of hydrophobic capillary constriction channels, wherein each fluidic trap and the associated bypass channel are connected in parallel and each fluidic trap and the associated hydrophobic capillary constriction channel are connected in series, each fluidic trap has a larger width than the associated bypass channel to trap fluid in said each fluidic trap while the fluid is removed from the associated bypass channel, and each of the hydrophobic capillary constriction channels is located only on an outlet side of the associated fluidic trap; 
 an inlet; 
 an outlet; and 
 a main channel with a plurality of portions that connects the inlet to the plurality of fluidic traps, associated hydrophobic capillary constriction channels and associated bypass channels, and the outlet. 
 
     
     
       13. The microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate of  claim 12  wherein each of the plurality of fluidic traps is a square-shaped trap. 
     
     
       14. The microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate of  claim 12  wherein the inlet, the outlet, the main channel, and the plurality of fluidic traps with the associated hydrophobic capillary constriction channels and associated bypass channels form a network, and the well-plate further comprises:
 a reservoir, filled with water open to atmosphere and substantially at a constant pressure, that surrounds the network of inlet, outlet, main channel, fluidic traps, hydrophobic capillary constriction channels and bypass channels; and 
 a cover that covers the reservoir and the network of inlet, outlet, main channel, fluidic traps, hydrophobic capillary constriction channels and bypass channels, wherein the cover includes a plurality of holes, each hole extends into one of the plurality of fluidic traps, and the fluidic traps are open to atmosphere through the holes when the holes are uncovered. 
 
     
     
       15. A method of operating a microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate, comprising:
 inserting fluid into a main channel of the well-plate through an inlet; 
 causing the fluid to enter into a bypass channel associated with a fluidic trap, wherein the bypass channel and the associated fluidic trap are connected in parallel; 
 causing the fluid to enter into the fluidic trap through a hydrophilic capillary constriction channel associated with the fluidic trap until the fluidic trap is filled with the fluid, wherein the fluidic trap and the associated hydrophilic capillary constriction channel are connected in series; 
 inserting air into the main channel of the well-plate through the inlet after the fluidic trap is filled with the fluid; and 
 causing the air to enter into the bypass channel and remove the fluid from the bypass channel while the fluid in the fluidic trap remains in the fluidic trap and air does not enter owing to the hydrophilic nature of the hydrophilic capillary constriction channel. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 inserting diluting fluid into the main channel of the well-plate through the inlet; and 
 causing the diluting fluid to enter into the fluidic trap through the hydrophilic capillary constriction channel associated with the fluidic trap. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15  further comprising repeating the steps for additional fluidic traps on the well-plate. 
     
     
       18. The microfluidic serial dilution platform based well-plate of  claim 1 , wherein the well-plate uses an oil-free immiscible phase driven by manual or electronic pipettors. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15  wherein said removing the fluid from the bypass channel including aspirating the fluid in the bypass channel.